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Are you ready to help us raise awareness about Tourette Syndrome? It's TS Awareness Month and we hope you'll join us in our effort to build acceptance and understanding in our community. National TSA today announced the creation of a bi-partisan Congressional Caucus on Tourette Syndrome - this is an important step in raising awareness and building a coalition of elected officials who "get it." You can read the press release and then easily send an email to your elected representatives to ask for their support and involvement.
We have a lot going on at the chapter level, too --- read on to learn more about what's planned and how you can help make the most of this month. |
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Let's Rock the Stadium!
Free tickets AND build awareness of TS - what could be better?!
Join your TSAGW friends on Sunday, June 9 at the Bowie Baysox vs. New Britain Rock Cats baseball game at Prince George's Stadium in Bowie, MD. TSAGW has 50 FREE tickets to be distributed on a first come-first served basis - just click here to email us to reserve your tickets. We'll meet at a family-friendly tailgate outside the stadium before the game and then sit together at the game, which starts at 2:05pm. We'll get a scoreboard and announcer welcome at the game and we'll also have table space in the concourse to share information on TS. The stadium offers great ballpark food, a kids play area, and every seat is a good one! This will be a terrific chapter event and a great way to meet others in our TS community, hang out, and enjoy the game. You can read more about it here. Don't wait - reserve your tickets today!
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Do More 24 - Support TSAGW on June 6
TSAGW is participating in a regional fundraising day on June 6 sponsored by the United Way-National Capital Area called "Do More 24." Non-profit organizations from VA, MD and DC are participating in a special 24 hour program - asking our friends and supporters to donate $12, 24 or $48 toward the chapter programs, services and events that support and enrich our TS community. We'll be spreading the word via social media - so please like our Facebook page and use it to alert others. Please visit our page on the Do More 24 website to learn more and to make a donation. Thank you!
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Our TSAGW Youth Ambassadors Kick off Awareness Month
Representing TSAGW with pride!
The training provided by National TSA in March to our two newest Youth Ambassadors, Gavin McCool and Samantha Swindell, is really paying off! Gavin and his mother Jackie recently attended a special luncheon for representatives of disability-related organizations on Capitol Hill with Rep Eric Cantor, Gavin's congressman. Gavin quickly followed it up with a speaking engagement at the Richmond chapter of the Society of Human Resource Professionals. He gave a terrific 15 minute talk on TS and that presentation can be viewed here. Great job, Gavin! And Samantha Swindell kicked off TS Awareness Month this week with a full day of presentations to students at Robert Frost Middle School in Rockville, MD as the students participated in their annual Differently-abled Awareness Fair. Thank you, Sam, for sharing your story with them and increasing understanding of TS. |
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Connect with others, learn, share.
Click on the link above to visit the TSAGW Support Group webpage for all contact info and more details on all of our groups. We have a lot going on!
Richmond Support Group - Join us for our next meeting to be held as a picnic on Saturday, June 8 from 12:00noon to 2pm at Deep Run Park in Richmond. We'll be at Shelter #3. Please bring your own lunch/beverages and dessert will be provided. The address is 9910 Ridgefield Parkway, Henrico VA 23233. This meeting is for adults with TS, parents of children with TS, and children/teens with TS. RSVP to Beth Baxter. Hope to see you there!
DC-Maryland Suburbs Support Group Meeting - The next meeting will be a bowling party at White Oaks Duckpin Lanes. Date and time information will follow via email to our DC and MD Suburb lists shortly.
Northern Virginia - Next Meeting - Wednesday, June 12 - 7pm - The next meeting of the NoVA group will be on Wednesday June 12 and we'll have a Youth Ambassador presentation and discussion. This will be especially valuable for parents of elementary or middle school-age children who want to get an idea of the kind of presentation our YA's do at schools. It will also be an opportunity to talk informally with them about the YA experience and training. The group meets at Fair Oaks Hospital and directions can be found on our Support Group page.
Frederick MD - The planning for the next meeting is underway with details to follow. For information on this group, please email Diane Thornley.
Virginia Beach - The steering committee will be announcing their first meeting very soon - watch for the email! For information on this group, email Jessica Gibson.
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Read All About It
Check out these great links
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Camp Connect for Kids with TS
Time to register - Camp runs June 23-29
Camp Connect is part of the group of Brainy Camps run by a non-profit organization that is a subsidiary of the Center for Neuroscience and Behavioral Medicine at Chilldren's National Medical Center. All of the camps were developed to provide a fun, residential camp for children living with chronic health conditions. The camp is staffed by health care professionals and this particular camp for children age 7-17 with TS has been operating for 8 summers. The camp is in High View, WV, not far from Winchester, VA. Check it out!
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ARCHER Study Volunteers Sought
Children and teens with TS, age 7-17, may be eligible
The Medical Advisory Board of National TSA has reviewed and just approved our sharing information about the ARCHER study, and patient volunteers are being sought. Click here to visit the study website and find a physician participating in the study near you. This study will evaluate a particular medication to see if it helps reduce the number and severity of tics in children age 7-17 with TS. We have already heard from the clinical study coordinator at the UVA Child and Family Psychiatry Clinic in Charlottesville seeking volunteers, and there are other physicians participating in the study in our chapter area. Visit the website for more information or call 1-888-541-7663 to speak to a study representative.
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Join TSA and TSAGW Today
Membership in TSA includes TSA of Greater Washington
Have you joined TSA this year? If not, we encourage you to make the investment in the only national organization dedicated to advocacy and research on behalf of those living with TS. Most non-profits, including National TSA and TSAGW, have struggled over the past several years during the economic downturn and are now trying to build back up with the help of our supporters and frieinds. Individual membership is just $45/year and benefits include quarterly newsletters, research updates, and support of TSAGW, your local chapter, and our services. Please visit the TSA site to join online or to download the form - and thank you! |
As always, if you need assistance or information, or would like to offer your help to the chapter, please contact us at admin@tsagw.org or call the office at 410-867-1151. We look forward to hearing from you! |
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